What girls want...

The second born niece came to stay with me for a week.

How they grow up so fast when you don't see them often.

But come to blend right in as if they were here yesterday.

Quite a few things have changed since I was a girl.

The techno gadgets and what you see on television...music videos...

things they learn about the world much quicker than I.

Fashions come and go...some a little similar to what we wore are back.

But the saving grace in this mad, mad world is this:

Some things about teenage girls never change.

The crushes on pop stars.

Doors left open and slamming closed while racing in and out from the barn.

Sleepovers with cousins and new found friends.

Shoes and sandals left as if the wearer dissipated on the spot...

Swimming at the lake, no matter what the weather...

Hand painted finger puppets complete with stories of love and romance...

 

And one thing that's always a sure thing...

Love affairs with horses!

These memories will be treasured by Rachel and her sisters for  the rest of their lives.

Tales about summers spent in the country to tell their children one day.

I take comfort in knowing that no matter how crazy this world can get, 

there are still some simple, beautiful things in life to keep warmth and magic in the heart.

Kings and Queens and Dirty Rascals...

Our summer here on the coast has been, in a word, shite.

Usually by this time of year we're swimming in the river and basking brown

skin in the sun on warm stones.

So when I take the 'cousins' for an outing, it's hard to plan for much, except

something that's versatile even in questionable weather.

Walks and rambles in the woods and by the sea are always a good choice in any weather.

So down to Royal Roads and Esquimalt Lagoon we went...

The boathouse for the rowers...

We went down to the docks there to have a look at the Purple Martins.

For a time these birds were threatened so the government installed a program

to put up nest boxes to encourage the population.

Then it was off into the forest...

The land here is so diverse...woods full of big trees, ferns and moss...

creeks that flow into the ocean...

The property once belonged to a wealthy family in the early 1900's and has extensive trails throughout.

A perfect place to let the imagination and the feet run wild!

Remains of an old water pipeline give way to climbing up and staking your claim as

King (or Queen) of the castle...

Monster stumps from giants who've crashed down over the years...

Castle gates to keep out the dirty rascals!

...and berries for the taking to ease the hunger of weary travelers...

Through the gates we venture onto the majestic gardens of Hatley Castle...

Angels to watch over us...

 Sending an armada of leaf ships down the fish ladder...

Dry summer fields take us back to the ocean...

And all along love watches over us...